• The Taliban has reportedly rejected a Chinese company’s US$10bn lithium investment
  • Afghanistan has reportedly received multiple expressions of interest
  • Latin Resource has more lithium hits at Colina

All your lithium news, Tuesday May 2.

 

The Taliban has said it is in no hurry to open up Afghanistan’s lithium resources to China.

China’s Gochin had reportedly offered to invest US$10bn in mining lithium and employing 120,000 people, both of which could play a critical role in reviving the country’s economy.

However, Arab News reported Ministry of Mines and Petroleum spokesman Hamayoon Afghan as saying that Afghanistan did not want to take “hurried steps and action in this regard”.

“It’s yet to be known when the contract will be signed and it’s not necessary for the contract to be signed only with China. We will consider our own benefits.”

While China could be interested in Afghanistan for potentially low cost lithium, the Taliban is clearly playing the long game and is reported to have received expressions of interest from a number of foreign companies in regards to investing in the country’s mining sector.

Concerns have also been raised about promises that lithium to China would be processed entirely in Afghanistan with some voicing scepticism that this would actually occur.

 

Here’s how ASX lithium stocks are tracking:

CODE COMPANY PRICE TODAY RETURN % MARKET CAP
WCN White Cliff Min Ltd 0.008 14% $6,713,381
RMX Red Mount Min Ltd 0.004 14% $7,951,479
RGL Riversgold 0.018 13% $15,127,483
EFE Eastern Resources 0.011 10% $12,419,465
LSR Lodestar Minerals 0.0055 10% $9,092,187
LRD Lordresourceslimited 0.24 9% $7,971,067
LRD Lordresourceslimited 0.24 9% $7,971,067
CRR Critical Resources 0.053 8% $78,142,989
LIS Lisenergylimited 0.34 8% $52,262,969
EVR Ev Resources Ltd 0.014 8% $12,167,793
ZNC Zenith Minerals Ltd 0.155 7% $50,997,376
EG1 Evergreenlithium 0.425 6% $22,492,000
LRS Latin Resources Ltd 0.1325 6% $316,040,198
GL1 Globallith 1.485 6% $299,508,425
INR Ioneer Ltd 0.31 5% $619,009,789
DTM Dart Mining NL 0.062 5% $10,077,243
LKE Lake Resources 0.465 4% $632,987,895
MQR Marquee Resource Ltd 0.024 4% $7,525,773
TMB Tambourahmetals 0.125 4% $4,943,112
ALY Alchemy Resource Ltd 0.0145 4% $16,493,068
ESS Essential Metals Ltd 0.445 3% $115,053,678
LPI Lithium Pwr Int Ltd 0.31 3% $188,729,268
KOB Kobaresourceslimited 0.165 3% $16,866,667
MTM MTM Critical Metals 0.17 3% $14,578,997
VMC Venus Metals Cor Ltd 0.2 3% $34,725,343
ZEO Zeotech Limited 0.043 2% $68,909,638
DLI Delta Lithium 0.445 2% $193,621,758
M2R Miramar 0.046 2% $3,515,478
EUR European Lithium Ltd 0.095 2% $138,499,243
DAF Discovery Alaska Ltd 0.049 2% $10,763,266
LPM Lithium Plus 0.255 2% $12,722,050
NMT Neometals Ltd 0.625 2% $339,935,823
LTR Liontown Resources 2.73 1% $5,957,812,055
AKE Allkem Limited 12.02 0% $7,651,897,032
ADV Ardiden Ltd 0.007 0% $18,818,347
AGY Argosy Minerals Ltd 0.405 0% $568,785,037
1MC Morella Corporation 0.009 0% $54,887,224
AML Aeon Metals Ltd. 0.023 0% $25,217,214
AVZ AVZ Minerals Ltd 0.78 0% $2,752,409,203
INF Infinity Lithium 0.12 0% $55,511,051
JRL Jindalee Resources 2.13 0% $122,217,198
LPD Lepidico Ltd 0.01 0% $76,377,717
PSC Prospect Res Ltd 0.135 0% $62,405,027
RLC Reedy Lagoon Corp. 0.007 0% $3,967,037
BMM Balkanminingandmin 0.205 0% $9,793,263
AM7 Arcadia Minerals 0.2 0% $9,339,578
AS2 Askarimetalslimited 0.355 0% $22,323,590
BYH Bryah Resources Ltd 0.023 0% $6,468,830
EMS Eastern Metals 0.06 0% $2,343,865
CTN Catalina Resources 0.005 0% $6,192,434
TEM Tempest Minerals 0.018 0% $9,122,790
WML Woomera Mining Ltd 0.012 0% $11,473,935
AZL Arizona Lithium Ltd 0.043 0% $115,711,526
SCN Scorpion Minerals 0.072 0% $24,890,846
AZI Altamin Limited 0.078 0% $30,553,907
ENT Enterprise Metals 0.007 0% $4,935,565
KAI Kairos Minerals Ltd 0.022 0% $43,210,057
STM Sunstone Metals Ltd 0.031 0% $81,233,839
AVW Avira Resources Ltd 0.003 0% $6,401,370
CAI Calidus Resources 0.19 0% $104,379,885
MRR Minrex Resources Ltd 0.016 0% $17,357,880
A8G Australasian Metals 0.15 0% $6,175,574
SRZ Stellar Resources 0.012 0% $12,055,571
AOA Ausmon Resorces 0.004 0% $3,877,157
VKA Viking Mines Ltd 0.011 0% $11,277,843
IPT Impact Minerals 0.013 0% $32,257,817
SRI Sipa Resources Ltd 0.024 0% $5,475,795
EPM Eclipse Metals 0.015 0% $30,420,897
WC8 Wildcat Resources 0.029 0% $19,198,659
THR Thor Energy PLC 0.005 0% $7,380,564
YAR Yari Minerals Ltd 0.02 0% $9,647,156
MXR Maximus Resources 0.038 0% $12,124,119
MM1 Midasmineralsltd 0.165 0% $9,426,741
LLI Loyal Lithium Ltd 0.32 0% $19,036,800
WMC Wiluna Mining Corp 0.205 0% $74,238,031
AUN Aurumin 0.03 0% $5,932,746
KTA Krakatoa Resources 0.033 0% $11,991,427
TYX Tyranna Res Ltd 0.025 0% $60,160,633
IR1 Irismetals 1.16 0% $74,506,800
LNR Lanthanein Resources 0.018 0% $20,188,360
DAL Dalaroometalsltd 0.065 0% $1,941,875
CY5 Cygnus Metals Ltd 0.25 0% $46,781,053
LLL Leolithiumlimited 0.52 0% $513,061,594
A11 Atlantic Lithium 0.59 0% $359,452,579
CMD Cassius Mining Ltd 0.017 0% $6,944,379
BUR Burleyminerals 0.3 0% $18,424,306
ENT Enterprise Metals 0.007 0% $4,935,565
FIN FIN Resources Ltd 0.015 0% $8,918,030
NIS Nickelsearch 0.092 0% $5,566,499
IGO IGO Limited 13.535 0% $10,283,696,901
CXO Core Lithium 0.95 -1% $1,774,883,538
FRS Forrestaniaresources 0.0755 -1% $4,627,739
EMH European Metals Hldg 0.61 -1% $77,418,636
MIN Mineral Resources. 72.54 -1% $14,149,716,988
PLS Pilbara Min Ltd 4.065 -1% $12,291,855,428
CHR Charger Metals 0.495 -1% $21,857,184
PNN Power Minerals Ltd 0.4 -1% $29,259,566
MNS Magnis Energy Tech 0.1925 -1% $199,939,639
AAJ Aruma Resources Ltd 0.07 -1% $11,144,267
TUL Tulla Resources 0.335 -1% $109,413,361
VUL Vulcan Energy 5.96 -1% $867,783,571
NVA Nova Minerals Ltd 0.33 -1% $70,648,075
RIO Rio Tinto Limited 110.55 -2% $41,672,732,184
OCN Oceanalithiumlimited 0.315 -2% $12,024,480
WES Wesfarmers Limited 51.21 -2% $59,035,645,854
DRE Dreadnought Resources Ltd 0.06 -2% $202,076,421
LM1 Leeuwin Metals Ltd 0.295 -2% $12,086,998
PAT Patriot Lithium 0.255 -2% $15,830,751
GLN Galan Lithium Ltd 1.01 -2% $316,122,867
FBM Future Battery 0.1175 -2% $51,341,416
SYA Sayona Mining Ltd 0.2 -2% $1,838,597,014
MAN Mandrake Res Ltd 0.04 -2% $24,549,157
EMC Everest Metals Corp 0.076 -3% $10,095,783
GW1 Greenwing Resources 0.19 -3% $29,232,406
EMC Everest Metals Corp 0.076 -3% $10,095,783
TON Triton Min Ltd 0.036 -3% $57,770,157
PGD Peregrine Gold 0.36 -3% $20,757,966
LIT Lithium Australia 0.035 -3% $43,962,900
FG1 Flynngold 0.07 -3% $7,406,895
PL3 Patagonia Lithium 0.175 -3% $8,820,630
GSM Golden State Mining 0.032 -3% $3,861,469
GT1 Greentechnology 0.6 -3% $118,257,804
PAM Pan Asia Metals 0.27 -4% $43,429,565
BNR Bulletin Res Ltd 0.081 -4% $24,661,652
LEL Lithenergy 0.6875 -4% $43,007,250
QPM Queensland Pacific 0.12 -4% $218,293,490
FTL Firetail Resources 0.096 -4% $7,700,000
VSR Voltaic Strategic 0.024 -4% $7,682,505
G88 Golden Mile Res Ltd 0.021 -5% $5,795,509
MMC Mitremining 0.31 -5% $12,426,408
RAS Ragusa Minerals Ltd 0.08 -5% $11,978,298
TKM Trek Metals Ltd 0.06 -5% $22,928,540
LRV Larvottoresources 0.295 -5% $20,848,964
WR1 Winsome Resources 1.33 -5% $226,845,524
ASN Anson Resources Ltd 0.175 -5% $225,954,875
MLS Metals Australia 0.035 -5% $22,460,339
QXR Qx Resources Limited 0.034 -6% $32,287,044
NWM Norwest Minerals 0.034 -6% $8,905,364
RAG Ragnar Metals Ltd 0.016 -6% $6,446,143
PLL Piedmont Lithium Inc 0.8 -6% $370,026,045
KZR Kalamazoo Resources 0.135 -7% $21,908,131
LLO Lion One Metals Ltd 1.08 -7% $13,986,077
KGD Kula Gold Limited 0.013 -7% $5,224,967
AX8 Accelerate Resources 0.023 -8% $9,440,044
IMI Infinitymining 0.155 -9% $13,001,314
SGQ St George Min Ltd 0.041 -9% $37,822,975
ARN Aldoro Resources 0.135 -10% $20,163,561
TKL Traka Resources 0.007 -13% $6,938,634
XTC Xantippe Res Ltd 0.003 -25% $42,320,399
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Lithium trended down with 59 companies in the red while just 33 made gains. Another 57 companies were unchanged as the market absorbed the RBA’s decision to increase rates by 25 basis points.

 

WHO’S GOT NEWS OUT?

Here’s a selection of news out from lithium plays today.

Arcadia Minerals (ASX:AM7)

The company has defined a maiden resource of 13.7Mt grading 553 parts per million (ppm) Li2O for its Madube Pan, or contained resources of 40,375t of lithium carbonate equivalent.

This also resulted in the increase in overall contained resources at the interpreted dyke structures from 286,909t LCE to 327,284t LCE.

Arcadia noted that drilling had noted a clear trend that grade increases at depth while cyclone test work has been carried out on Madube Pan samples to determine potential for grade increase.

The company added that the overall resource defined to date covers just two of 14 known pans in the Bitterwasser Pan District.

Coolabah Metals (ASX:CBH)

Coolabah is the latest ASX junior to snap up lithium ground in the popular James Bay region of Quebec, Canada, acquiring four properties covering 113km2 about 20km from Patriot Battery Metals’ (ASX:PMT, TSX-V:PMET) Corvette project.

These include the Carmoy project, which targets interpreted dyke structures about 15km along strike to the northwest of Corvette.

It also acquired a 70km2 project in neighbouring Ontario about 70km from Frontier Lithium’s 58.4Mt at 1.5% Li2O project.

C29 Metals (ASX:C29)

Pilot plant test work at the University of Melbourne using Ekosolve direct lithium extraction technology has achieved 95.8% lithium extraction efficiency from brines sourced from C29 Metals’ Pocitos 7 project.

This is similar, and slightly better than previous brines tested from Pozuelos, Incahuasi and Pocitos salars with the company noting that it demonstrates that the extraction organic solvents have a good extractability for the lithium in the salt lake brine.

Lithium chloride produced using the process is now being processed to produce a battery-grade lithium carbonate product.

Latin Resources Limited (ASX:LRS)

Drilling at Latin Resources’ Colina deposit has returned assays such as 18.21m grading 1.9% Li2O from 212.72m and 16.12m at 1.55% Li2O from 302.69m in hole SADD089 and 15.42m at 1.48% Li2O from 288.64m and 12.65m at 1.44% Li2O from 327.04m in hole SADD088.

These results show that continuous high-grade pegmatites persist to the southwest while the broader program has proven that the extensive pegmatite system at the Colina deposit remains open in all directions.

Latin believes that its resource definition drilling program is on track for the planned mid-May cut-off for the Colina resource update, which is looking to be fairly substantial.

 

Power Minerals (ASX:PNN)

Power Minerals has secured a $2.6m strategic investment from Fuyang Mingjin New Energy Development to accelerate development of its Argentinian lithium assets.

Lithium sector investor Mingjin, which is also invested in companies such as Octavis Minerals and Patagonia Lithium, will subscribed for 6.5 million shares in the company at a placement price of 40c each to raise the funds.

This will give it a 8.6% stake in the company.

Stelar Metals (ASX:SLB)

Stelar has agreed to collaborate with SensOre, which has been granted NSW Government grant funding into lithium exploration research, to test new techniques at Stelar’s new Trident project in the state.

The two companies will use SensOre’s promising research to identify sources of economic lithium as part of a broader research program.

Trident, which was acquired by the company in February 2023, extends over the 15km long Euriowie Pegmatite Field that is prospective for hard-rock lithium mineralisation.

Mapped pegmatites vary in size but have been reported to be up to 100m wide and over 1km in length.

Venus Metals (ASX:VMC)

Highlighting the prospectivity of its Henderson nickel-lithium project, Venus Metals Corporation has signed a binding farm-in agreement with IGO.

Under the deal, IGO will acquire up to 70% in the project by incurring up to $4m in sole-funded exploration expenditure until the completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study and reimbursing Venus $1m for past costs.

Should IGO complete the PFS, it has the right to acquire Venus’ remaining 30% interest at a price based on fair market value less an apportioned aggregation of IGO’s expenditure incurred in relation to Henderson.